New York Laws
Article 26-B - Board of Social Welfare
747 - Functions, Powers and Duties of the Board.

(b) To have full access to the grounds, buildings, records, documents,
books and papers relating to any facility or agency subject to being
visited and inspected by the board, including all case records of
incarcerated individuals and children under their custody and all
financial records.
(c) Upon visiting or inspecting any facility or agency under this
article, inquiry may be made to ascertain the quality of supervision
exercised by state and local agencies responsible for supervising such
facilities and agencies, and the quality of program and operating
standards established by such state and local agencies, and to ascertain
the adequacy of such state and local agency supervision to determine the
following:
(i) whether the objects of the facility or agency are being
accomplished;
(ii) whether the applicable laws, rules and regulations governing its
operation are fully complied with;
(iii) its methods of and equipment for vocational and scholastic
education, and whether the same are best suited to the needs of its
incarcerated individuals or children under their custody;
(iv) its methods of administration; and of providing care, medical
attention, treatment and discipline of its residents and beneficiaries,
and whether the same are best adapted to the needs of the residents and
beneficiaries;
(v) the qualifications and general conduct of its officers and
employees;
(vi) the condition of its grounds, buildings and other property;
(vii) the sources of public moneys received by any institution in
receipt of public funds and the management and condition of its finances
generally; and
(viii) any other matter connected with or pertaining to its usefulness
and good management or to the interest of its residents or
beneficiaries.
(d) To make a report of such visit and inspection and, notwithstanding
any inconsistent provision of law, to transmit copies of such report to
the governor, the legislature, all state and local governmental agencies
having supervisory jurisdiction, and to such other governmental agencies
as the board may consider appropriate, and to make such report available
for public inspection in accordance with the requirements of the freedom
of information law, and any other law which may be applicable, provided,
however, that such disclosure shall be consistent with all applicable
laws and regulations governing the safeguarding of confidential records
and information.
2. To conduct studies, analyses and research on specific programs and
policies of the state in all matters pertaining to adult and child care
programs, including care and services provided in a residential setting,
services and programs designed to maintain the family structure intact
and to prevent or terminate the need for such care away from their
homes, and any other matter within the scope of its functions, powers
and duties under this article; and to advise, aid and assist the
governor regarding all policies and programs for child and adult care.
Such studies, analyses and research shall be coordinated with similar
activities of all other state agencies having responsibilities or
authority to conduct studies, analyses and research pertaining to adult
and child care programs.
3. To conduct studies, analyses and research to all matters pertaining
to human services generally. Such studies, analysis and research shall
be coordinated with similar activities of all other state agencies
having responsibilities or authority to conduct studies, analysis and
research pertaining to adult and child care programs.
4. To advocate the initiation, development, improvement and
sponsorship by state and local agencies, both public and private, of
such programs and policies as it may consider desirable in providing
care and services for children and adults away from their own homes, or
which are designed to prevent the need for care away from their own
homes. The board may recommend legislation. The board is authorized to
make application and to appear before any court as a friend of the court
in any action or proceeding pending before such court, which is
concerned with issues relevent to the board and within the scope of its
functions, powers and duties under this article.
5. To direct an investigation, and to hold hearings relevant to such
investigation, by a committee of one or more of its members or by duly
authorized employees of the board, of the adequacy of the supervision by
any state or local agency having jurisdiction over the affairs and
management of any facility or agency subject to visit and inspection by
the board, or over the conduct of its officers and employees. Persons
designated to make such investigations are empowered to issue compulsory
process for the attendance of witnesses and production of any records,
documents, books or papers relating to any matter under investigation,
to administer oaths and to take the testimony of any person under oath.
Upon the conclusion of such investigation, the board shall make a
report, with findings of fact and conclusions of law and,

notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, shall
transmit copies of such report to the governor, the legislature, all
governmental agencies, both state and local, having supervisory
jurisdiction, and to such other governmental agencies as the board may
consider to be appropriate, and to make such report available for public
inspection in accordance with the requirements of the freedom of
information law and any other applicable law, provided, however, that
such disclosure shall be consistent with all applicable laws and
regulations governing the safeguarding of confidential records and
information.
6. To review and comment on proposed legislation, rules and
regulations pertaining to child and adult care. Each division within the
executive department and all other departments of the state shall make
available to the board any recommendations for legislative changes at
the time such recommendations are made; any proposed rules and
regulations, at least thirty days prior to the date they are adopted,
except for the promulgation of such rules and regulations on an
emergency basis.
7. To conduct public hearings with respect to any matter within the
scope of its functions, powers and duties.
8. To enter into contracts with other state and federal agencies, and
with individuals and organizations to undertake and conduct research,
studies and analysis of programs in the exercise of its authority to
conduct such research, studies and analysis.
9. To request from any department, division, board, bureau, commission
or other agency of the state or of any political subdivision thereof,
and the same are authorized to provide such facilities and assistance,
and shall provide such data as will enable the board properly to
exercise its powers and perform its duties.
10. To accept as agency of the state any gift, grant, including
federal grant, devise or bequest, for any of the purposes of this
article. Any moneys so received may be expended by the board to
effectuate any purpose of this article, subject to the same limitations
as to approval of expenditures and audit as are prescribed for state
moneys appropriated for the purposes of this article.
11. To make an annual report to the governor and the legislature with
respect to the affairs of the board, and of its recommendations.
12. To make, amend and rescind rules:
(a) governing the procedure for visits and inspections by the board,
including the furnishing of information to the board as it may require
on such forms as the board may provide by any facility or agency visited
and inspected or to be visited and inspected;
(b) governing access to records and meetings of the board, in
accordance with the requirements for such rules under the freedom of
information law and the open meetings law;
(c) otherwise necessary to carry out its functions, powers and duties
under this article;
(d) provided, however, that any such rules are adopted by a two-thirds
vote of the members of the board and are otherwise adopted and
promulgated in accordance with the procedures of the state
administrative procedure act and with the applicable provisions of this
chapter.
13. To do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the
functions, powers and duties expressly set forth in this article.
14. The rights and powers of the board to visit, inspect and
investigate may be enforced by an order of the supreme court after
notice and hearing, or by indictment by the grand jury of the county, or
both.

15. Any person who intentionally refuses to comply with a lawful
request of the board for access to such persons, premises or information
as may be required for the board properly to perform its functions,
powers and duties under this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.